REVIEW: WIDOWS (2018)

Based off the novel by Lynda La Plante, Widows tells the story of three women, who after their husbands die after a botched heist, must now pull off a robbery in order to ensure that a Chicago kingpin will get the money that he was promised. But as these women fall deeper and deeper into this web of lies, they begin to find out that the situation is not as black and white as it first seemed. Widows is marks a tour de force film of 2018. Steve McQueen, director of fine films such as Shame or 12 Years a Slave, brings together a fierce group of women and tells a gripping and tantalizing story of corruption, hate, and love.

Viola Davis, plays Veronica, a wife whose husband was killed in the heist with three other men. Veronica grieves for her belated husband, but soon after, a local Chicago crime boss threatens to kill her if he doesn’t receive his money. But instead of settling into her own grief, Veronica cuts through the bullshit and takes hold of the situation along with the other widows Linda (Michelle Rodriguez) and Alice (Elizabeth Debicki). All of whom exhibit their incredible talents on screen. But through all the incredible talent onscreen, Davis is the one who steals the show. Davis fully encapsulates every characters she plays, giving them a persona all their own that can truly run with the big dogs. It’s no surprise that Davis can make you feel for the character she is playing. But as Widows progresses, Davis shines through, creating one of her best performances. She has a huge responsibility to this film, because she is the one that carries this movie from start to finish. She is the central character of this female driven movie.

This female driven crime drama is anything but ordinary. McQueen’s version of Widow’s certainly makes it the most compelling of all the remakes. But like so many of McQueen’s past projects, he doesn’t shy away from putting his main characters in vulnerable positions, while continuing to tell a true and gritty story. Even after several compelling dramas under his sleeve, McQueen takes on the heist genre and truly makes it his own. However, if you are a McQueen fan, this mainstream hit of his may have you hungering for more. To be truly honest, in all of Widows’ glory, this film may be McQueen’s weakest. Widows is a compelling, gritty, and honest take at the lives of these women. Although there are a few minor flaws throughout, this film certainly packs a massive punch. But most of all, Widows does the fantastic job of creating a movie with story, heart, female bad-assery, and action. That when all rolled up into one, makes for a well-made film that will go down in history as truly great.